Tomlinson Report calls for a diploma system for 14-19 year old education
Mike Tomlinson’s eagerly awaited 14-19 year old Working Group Reform report is released
The 201 Page Tomlinson report was released today (18 Oct). The 14-19 year old Working Group Reform report was eagerly awaited and has been heralded as the biggest education shake up for over 60 years!
The report recommends a Diploma system for 14-19 year old education. It is suggested that a phased implementation be introduced starting in 2008, with the Diploma system in full operation by 2014/15.
Tomlinson, who is the former Chief Inspector of Schools, has proposed a Diploma system where students accumulate credits to enable them to progress from Level 1 to Level 4 of the Diploma system (Entry, Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced).
The report recommends that ‘Existing qualifications such as GCSEs, A levels, and NVQs cease to be free-standing qualifications in their own right but should evolve to become components of the new diplomas’.
The Foundation Diploma will be the equivalent of a NVQ Level 1 or GCSE grade D-G and Intermediate will be equivalent to a NVQ Level 2 or GCSE grade A-C. The Advanced Diploma will be equivalent to a level 3, A-level or AS level qualifications.
The report suggests 20 subject lines for learners. These subject lines will be ‘open’ to allow learners to study a mixture of subjects.
The QCA suggested subject lines are:
- Health, Public Services and Care Science and Mathematics
- Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
- Engineering Manufacturing Technologies
- Construction, Planning and The Built Environment
- Information and Communication Technology
- Retail and Commercial Enterprise
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism
- Arts, Media and Publishing
- History, Philosophy and Theology
- Social Sciences
- Languages, Literature and Culture
- Education and Training
- Preparation For Life and Work
- Business, Administration and Law
The report suggests a move away from formal examinations and into an assessment model.
The report both preserves and enhances A-Levels as grades will be split into three, providing details of students marks.
This will allow enable universities to still select students by their grades.
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